So after 27 months as a vegan at the age of 33 my cholesterol is 111. The "normal" range is 127 to 200. 111 is considered low but from what I've seen it's pretty normal for a vegan and not something to be worried about.

I moved 3 months ago though and haven't taken my B12 liquid supplement during that time. The only B12 I've gotten the last 3 months is what's in rice milk. I'd estimate I'm getting maybe 40% the RDA the last three months. So I suspected my B12 level might be low and sure enough it was. 152 where the normal is 180 to 900. So I made sure to go get some liquid B12 supplement. I'll check again in a few months. I'm pretty sure I'll be fine then with taking some B12 liquid supplement like once or twice a week.

Thanks for the report Jay. It sounds like you're fine to me I've never checked my levels of B-12 or anything else in my blood. I may have had blood tests a few years ago before I could work on a cruise ship, but I don't recall the results.

Anyway, yeah, get that B-12 going again and you're all set. Nice to see cholesterol so low. 1/3 of first-time heart attacks occur between the range of 150-200. The rest are over 200 I believe.

I got the bloodwork done for I think 40 dollars on a Saturday morning at the local hospital. Just walked in and signed a paper and wait in line. Then come back the next day for the results. It might be worth it for other vegans to see if any of their local hospitals do this sort of thing.

Every vegan I've heard has a cholesterol below 120. But I've only heard a very few vegans bothering to get their B12 levels checked. Probably a good thing to do. Enriched rice milk wasn't enough to keep mine up and some people here say they don't take any B12 at all....

Just about 100% of all nutritional experts agree that as a safety net it's best to have a B12 supplement that you absorb under the tongue (as the modified lymphatic areas in the region of the back of the mouth & under the tongue are the main areas you absorb B12 very little B12 is absorbed along the rest of the alimentary canal).
It costs peanuts as you only need to suck a pill or open a capsule twice a week (why risk your long term health for a few pennies!?!)

I don't think you have to worry about "too low" cholesterol. Colin Campbell addresses this in "The China Study" (unless it's John Robbins in "The Diet Revolution"---I've been reading a lot lately), and says that most people worldwide following a plant-based diet have cholesterol levels that are sometimes considered "too low" by American standards.

As for B12: I'm often worried when I see other members of the forum poo-pooing the need for B12 supplementation. Glad you had it checked. I prefer the spray B12 you can get from www.veganessentials.com . Not only is it easy to take, but it's methylcobalamin, which is more effective than cyanacobalamin (which is what most B12 suppelments are made of). I've used methylcobalamin to reverse neuropathy (nerve damage) in my diabetic cat, and it's proven its effectiveness to me.

I think daywalker once said that there is no such thing as good cholesteral, and so there is no such thing as "too low cholesteral." You dont need any cholesteral. Cholsteral is bad. Zero cholesteral is ideal.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here. Alex, did I misunderstand you?

As far as poopooing B12 supplementation, I am by no means poopooing anything.

I wanted to know if taking nutrtional yeast daily (which has loadsa B12) and drinking soy milk fortified with B12 is sufficient supplementation. Can somebody address this question? I mean, if carnivores get enough B12 from eating animals, then cant we vegans get enough from nutritional yeast and fortified soy milk? Or do you need, IN ADDITION to that, further B12 supplementation in the forms suggested by some of you above?

For the record, I have had my B12 levels checked and I have never been short. And I have never supplemented B12, other than the yeast and soymilk, and whatever B12 is in a multivitamin. (only exception is a b12 shot I had like 3 years ago, which was before I was vegan).

Thanks in advanced for sharing your thoughts on this.

People reviled today for their activism will be tomorrow's angels, and people respected today for their power will be tomorrow's demons. History will absolve us and condemn them. ~ Paul Watson

compassionategirl wrote:I think daywalker once said that there is no such thing as good cholesteral, and so there is no such thing as "too low cholesteral." You dont need any cholesteral. Cholsteral is bad. Zero cholesteral is ideal.

I'm not sure but actually eating cholesterol might be totally unnecessary. If you had 0 cholesterol in a blood test that'd probably be really bad as your body is supposed to produce some cholesterol on it's own.

Or do you need, IN ADDITION to that, further B12 supplementation in the forms suggested by some of you above?

If your levels are OK then obviously your multivitamin, yeast, and fortified soy milk are enough.

For the record, I have had my B12 levels checked and I have never been short. And I have never supplemented B12,

compassionategirl wrote:I think daywalker once said that there is no such thing as good cholesteral, and so there is no such thing as "too low cholesteral." You dont need any cholesteral. Cholsteral is bad. Zero cholesteral is ideal.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here. Alex, did I misunderstand you?

I wanted to know if taking nutrtional yeast daily (which has loadsa B12) and drinking soy milk fortified with B12 is sufficient supplementation. Can somebody address this question? I mean, if carnivores get enough B12 from eating animals, then cant we vegans get enough from nutritional yeast and fortified soy milk? Or do you need, IN ADDITION to that, further B12 supplementation in the forms suggested by some of you above?

It's individual. If your blood levels are ok, then obviously it's sufficient. Some don't need supplements at all, for others only fortified foods are not enough.
It also strongly depends on the diet. I believe that in a truly natural vegan diet, you wouldn't need to supplement (living in a jungle and getting wild, fresh, raw food). But in civilization, i'd recommend the safe way to supplement.
Meat eaters supple medicaments to lower their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol...

Our bodies do not absorb B12 well (might have to do with our lower intestines not absorbing food well - for comparison gorillas with close to same digestive system, absorb 5 to 10 times more food in the lower intestines than humans but captive one fed similar diet to us, lose that ability.) Even less absorption of B12, as we age: many meat eating seniors have very low B12 levels.